Manuel Cuesta Morúa

Manuel Cuesta Morúa is the secretary general of the
Socialist Democratic Current, a dissident movement in Cuba, and is an anthropologist, philosopher, and historian. He is also
chairperson of the Progressive Circle Party (PARP).

It
should be noted that some observers, including Eugene
Godfried, have called for a re-evaluation of Martin Morúa's role. He is best
known for having drafted the Ley Morúa, but he was also very active in other
spheres.

It is well known in Havana that Cuesta Morúa is a frequent visitor to the American
Interests Section there. If he is receiving money, he would have to be
very careful, as that is illegal in Cuba, much like receiving money from Iran
or North Korea would be in the US.

RIGHTS-CUBA:
Dissidents Work for Racial Integration 9/3/2009 IPS: "Dissident
groups in Cuba are attempting to open up a debate on the problem of racism in
the country, in order to promote "full integration" of all the
island's citizens, without discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity or skin
colour. To that end, a committee "without ideological affiliation or
political goals" was formed this week at a workshop on the issue, to
promote actions and initiatives to guarantee "a voice and a forum" for
Afro-descendants on this Caribbean island, "with the responsible
support" of all Cubans who are aware of the problem. The Citizens'
Committee for Racial Integration (CIR) "will attempt to bring the issue out
of the closed intellectual debates where it has been closeted for the past 15
years," said Manuel Cuesta Morúa, spokesman for the moderate dissident
Arco Progresista, a coalition of small social democrat groups and one of the
participants at the workshop, to which the foreign press was invited. In his
view, alternative civil society organisations should seek ways to achieve the
self-recognition of black people, who are not represented in proportion to their
demographics and their cultural contribution to Cuba. "The CIR is pursuing
recognition and racial integration, not conflict or racial pre-eminence,"
he said."

Cuba:
Democracy for a Possible Nation 9/16/2008 Real Instituto
Eelcano: "The aim of this Working Paper is to provide some conclusions
and practical recommendations regarding possible policies to be implemented by
governments interested in favouring -as third parties- the success of a gradual
democratic transformation of the Cuban regime on the basis of an agreed and
non-violent process."

Simple
questions for a Cuban socialist 7/25/2000 Miami Herald: "Describing
himself as an Afro-Cuban (unlike most of his black countrymen who stress
nationality above race), Cuesta Morua modestly calls the Current "a small
group of dissidents.'' One must need an admirable equilibrium to survive in
communist Cuba as a dissident socialist."

Who
speaks for the Cuban people? 7/18/2000 Washington Times: "I
speak as an Afro-Cuban dissident who lives on the island. I am not some
pro-government sycophant. I was fired from my job in 1991 because of my views,
and it is only after four years of effort that I have now been allowed to travel
abroad — for the first time in my life. I work closely with human rights
activists and with other dissidents in Cuba."